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Feature Article

Summer Storms

For most people, summer is the ideal season for going on a holiday. School is out and adults typically take time off during the hot months, and the whole family starts making vacation plans. Cruises are among the most attractive choices, due to the unique chances they offer in terms of travelling and entertainment. There's just one problem: hurricanes. Officially, the hurricane season lasts throughout the summer in the Caribbean, from June 1 to November 30.

Before you dismiss these warnings with a shrug and an optimistic gaze, you should take into account some sobering facts. Contrary to popular belief, cruise liners are not unsinkable. Just because everyone on board is determined to have a good time, it doesn't mean harm cannot come their way. The tragedy of the Phantom in 1998 opened many people's eyes to the risks of sailing stormy waters and served as a gloomy reminder of how helpless we can be in front of nature's fury. The above mentioned ship of the Windjammer cruise line was lost with all of the crew as they sailed right into the hurricane they were trying to avoid. The passengers had already been dropped off on the shore, but the captain and crew members never returned from sea. The next year, a Carnival Cruise ship had some problems during a hurricane, but the crew and the passengers were lucky to make out of the turbulent waters.

With stories such as these, it is obvious why many people will take a cautious attitude when it comes to cruising. Still, you should not take caution to extreme. The cruising industry does not want to expose its passengers to hazard: technology and skills are employed to make your Caribbean cruise a perfect vacation and an experience you'll want to repeat. Add to this assurance the attractive discounts given to cruisers from August to December, and you might feel a wave of courage coming over you.

However, you should not imagine that hurricanes cannot affect ships anymore. It's not that the ship can sail into the storm and out of it without problems, but forecast and forethought will be used to ensure that hurricanes are avoided. Hurricanes are now rather an inconvenience than a danger, because they often cause ships to change their course - and thus your holiday plans - or even to cancel departure if the risk of tempestuous weather is too high.

A reservation is therefore not a promise. No shipping company is willing to risk the safety of its crew and passengers and the ship's repair, so the first threat of a storm can cause the cruise to be cancelled without hesitation.

There are two sensible things you can do in order to minimize risks. The first one is to think twice before paying any large deposits for anything connected with your summer cruise. The second one is to have a backup plan - some other way to spend your vacation in case the cruise gets cancelled.